This morning, Pastor Augustin shared a challenging message asking us to consider our identity as Christians. He talked about how we need to consider the challenge of today’s Gospel reading (John 12:20-33): to be like seeds that die in the ground before they are able to bring forth great harvest.
He also shared from the life story of Anne Beiler – about how, despite all that she has gone through, willingly gave up her Auntie Anne’s business empire to strengthen families. You can read more about it here: http://thebeilers.com.
Finally, he shared from St. Francis of Assisi‘s life and prayer – that we would consider what we bring to the situations around us: whether we become instruments of peace and add positively to the situations around us or add strife to the situation.
Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace
(The Prayer of St. Francis)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
…where there is injury, pardon;
…where there is doubt, faith;
…where there is despair, hope;
…where there is darkness, light;
…where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
…to be consoled as to console;
…to be understood as to understand;
…to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
…it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
…and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Francis of Assisi
Italy
1182–1226
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT8bybL_DqY&feature=share]